Transcript Indoor Air Quality Basics

Indoor Air Quality “More Than Mold”
J. Lindsay Cook, CIH, CSP
Morrisville, Charlotte,
Richmond, Greenville
2101 Gateway Centre Blvd. Suite 200, Morrisville, NC 27560  Tel: (919) 544-7500  Fax: (919) 544-2199  www.ei1.com
IAQ Definitions
Sick Building Syndrome
 Building Related Symptoms (BRS)
 Building Related Illness (BRI)
 Crisis Building
 Mass Psychogenic Illness

Occupant Symptoms

Headache
 Runny Nose
 Stuffy Nose
 Cough
 Dry, Itching Eyes
 Sore/strained Eyes
 Dry Throat





Unusual Fatigue or
Tiredness
Sleepiness or Drowsiness
Problems With Contact
Lens
Dizziness
Difficulty Concentrating
Economic Aspects of IAQ
Lost Productivity
 Healthcare
 Business Disruption
 Alternative Space
 Building Cleanup & Renovation

Annual cost to US employers of 3 sick days and 6 min/day
of lost concentration - $10 Billion!
NIOSH Study - 1990

Factors Associated with IAQ Complaints In A
Study of Over 500 “Problem” Buildings
53% - Inadequate Ventilation
15% - Indoor Pollutant Sources
10% - Outdoor Contaminants
5% - Microbial Contaminants
13% - Unknown
Representative IAQ Pollutants &
Sources









2 Butoxyethanol
4-phenylcyclohexane
C5-C6 Aliphatics
Dusts, Particles
Fungi
Legionella
Man Made Fibers
Nicotine
Carbon Monoxide
Glass Cleaners
SBR Backed Carpet
Adhesives, Waxes, Cleaners
Copiers, Outside Air
Water Damage, Poor HVAC
Hot Water Systems, Towers
Ceiling Tiles, Insulation
ETS
Combustion Sources
IAQ Strategies

Traditional Methods Often Not Effective

Utilize a “Building Diagnostics” Approach

Qualitative Phase – Ask the Right Questions

Quantitative Phase – Use the Right Methods

Have an Interpretation Strategy Before
Collecting Data
IAQ Guidelines - US EPA

Building Air Quality – A Guide For Building
Owners & Facility Managers – 1991

Indoor Air Quality Tools
For Schools
www.epa.gov/iaq
www.cal-iaq.org/
ASHRAE 62-2001
Acceptable Indoor Air Quality

No Known Contaminants at Harmful
Concentrations As Determined by Cognizant
Authorities

A Substantial Majority (80% or More) of the
People Exposed Do Not Express
Dissatisfaction.
ASHRAE Guidelines

ASHRAE 55-1992 - “Thermal Environmental
Conditions For Human Occupancy”
– Temperature:
Summer 730 - 790 F
Winter
680 – 74.50 F
– Relative Humidity: 30% - 65%

ASHRAE 62-2001 – “Ventilation For Acceptable
Indoor Air Quality”
– Ventilation:
15 – 25 cfm per person, typical
– Carbon Dioxide: 700 ppm indoor/outdoor differential
– Relative Humidity: 30 - 60% to control microbial growth
US EPA Ambient Air Quality
Standards





PM10
Carbon Monoxide
Ozone
Sulfur Dioxide
Nitrogen Dioxide
50 ug/m3
9 ppm
0.12 ppm
0.14 ppm
0.055 ppm
(1 yr)
(8 hr)
(1 hr)
(24 hr)
(1 yr)
Sampling – Comfort Parameters

Definitions
 Parameters
– Temperature
– Relative Humidity
– Carbon Dioxide

Issues
– Grab Sampling/Data Logging
– Interpretation
Ventilation Basics

Q = AV
 Flow Measurement
– Thermal Anemometer
– Rotating Vane Anemometer
– Capture Hood – Balometer

Data Interpretation &Analysis
– Design Considerations
– Outdoor Air Delivery
– Air Balance
Particulates

Sources
– Outdoors
– HVAC Systems
– Occupants & Processes
PM10 – 0.1 – 10 um in Diameter
 Indoor Air Guideline – 50 ug/m3


Ultrafine Particulate (UFP) - <0.1 um
UFP Case Study: Hospital Renovation
Location
UFP, pt/cm3
Outdoor Air
Second Floor Supply Air
Second Floor Adjacent Areas
Second Floor Nurses Area
Second Floor Expansion Joint
Nurses Area After Repair
9,440
562
550
14,200
158,000
562
Volatile Organic Compounds

Commonly Associated with Indoor Air Quality

Include Alcohols, Aldehydes, Other
Hydrocarbons

TVOC Not Directly Correlated with BRS

Elevated TVOC or Dominating Presence of A
Single VOC Not Characteristic of Well
Operated Buildings
Current VOC Guidelines

European Collaborative Action Report 11 (1992)
Concern
Comfort Range
Multi-factorial Range
Discomfort Range
Toxic Range
Level, ug/M3
<200
200 - 3,000
3,000 - 25,000
>25,000
Current VOC Guidelines (Cont.)

US Environmental Protection Agency (1996)
TVOC
Formaldehyde
Total Aldehydes
4-PC
500 ug/m3
0.05 mg/m3
<0.1 ppm
1 ppb
Current VOC Guidelines (Cont.)

Washington State, (1989)
TVOC
Formaldehyde
4-PC
500 ug/m3
0.05 ppm
1 ppb
Recommend Building Flush Out with 100%
Outdoor Air for 90 Days Prior to Building
Occupancy
VOC Sampling
Evaluation Strategy
 Sampling Methodology

– Real Time/Traditional
Product Testing
 Interpretation of Data

VOC Emission Studies

Washington State Study - TVOC’s
– Paint
1,500 - 825,000 ug/m2 hr
– Carpet Adhesives
2,783 - 38,406 ug/m2 hr
Washington State L&I Building

Prior To Flush Out
TVOC
Formaldehyde
Particulates

10,400 ug/m3
32 ug/m3
0.076 mg/m3
After Flush Out
TVOC
Formaldehyde
Particulates
77 ug/m3
13 ug/m3
0.004 mg/m3
Guidelines for Mold Evaluation

American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Bioaerosols:
Assessment and Control, 1999

American Industrial Hygiene Association
(AIHA): Report of Microbial Growth Task
Force, May, 2001
Microbial Sampling Methods

Bulk

Swab

Tape

Air
– Viable & Non-viable
Sample Interpretation

Where To Sample
– Indoors - complaint and non-complaint area
– Outdoors - reference air

Rank Order Results
– Predominant organisms similar
– no amplification
Allergens

IgE vs. IgG Immune System Response

Sensitive Individuals Are Termed “Atopic”

Types:
– Dust Mites
– Cockroaches
– Cats
– Dogs
Der p 1, Der f 1
Bla g 1, Per a 1
Fel d 1
Can d 1
Federally Leased Facility - RTP

December, 2001
TVOC - 2,722 - 4181 ug/m3
Long Chain Alkanes and Alcohols, 1-Heptanol
Common to Odor Complaints
Carpet Emission TVOC - 3,147 ug/m2 *hr
Common Alkanes & Alcohols

February, 2002
TVOC - 2,654 - 5,158 ug/m3
Federally Leased Facility - RTP

TVOC Emission Factors (ug/m2*hr)- April, 2002
Ceiling Tile
Rolled Good Carpet
Uninstalled Carpet Tile
Installed Carpet Tile
246
650
4,656
11,601
Federally Leased Facility - RTP

Individual VOC Emissions (ug/m2*hr) Installed Carpet
Dimethylcyclopentane
4-Methyl, 1-Hexanol
1-Heptanol
Pentadecane
Tetradecane
3,197
1,323
1,204
935
720
Federally Leased Facility - RTP

Individual VOC Emissions (ug/m2*hr) Uninstalled Carpet
Tetradecane
Pentadecane
1-Nonene
Dimethylcyclopentane
4-Methyl, 1-Hexanol
1-Heptanol
1,433
1,201
200
194
110
107